Writing in the Washington Post, Philip Candreva, pointed out that, "No services have been held for 50 years," in a Jewish temple in Shanghai where Hillary Rodham Clinton praised, "the respect of religious differences in China." It was renovated only three months before Clinton arrived, after being used as a Communist party lecture hall and warehouse. Citing Amnesty International reports, Candreva notes that China recognizes only five religions, not including Judaism and "each of these is restricted severely through administration by a government-organized patriotic association... crackdowns on unregistered churches have intensified."

The Chinese government demanded that the Clinton administration rein in the U.S. Congress to stop resolutions it sees as hostile, the Associated Press reports. "We hope that the U.S. government will adopt effective measures to eliminate interference and prevent Congress from passing anti-China resolutions," stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang. He claimed the U.S. constitution entitles the government "to adopt effective measures to prevent the Congress from passing such resolutions."

Beijing was reacting to a 92-0 Senate vote in support of a resolution introduced by Majority Leader Trent Lott. The resolution pledges the U.S. will help Taiwan "maintain a sufficient self-defense capability," called on China to "renounce the use of force" and supported Taiwan's entry into international organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

One hundred dissident from 19 mainland Chinese cities and provinces co-signed an open letter to Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji protesting the arrest of nine activists who attempted to register a pro-democracy party during President Clinton's visit, reports Agence France-Presse. The Democratic Party made the first attempt for official recognition of an opposition party in five decades of Communist rule. The letter stated the detentions were "against the Chinese Government's promises to improve human rights and promote democracy."

The letter was made public in Beijing and Hong Kong, the Washington Post reports, after Mr. Lin Hui, one of the three founders of the Democratic Party, was taken into custody in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Party co-founders Wang Youcai and Wang Donghai were seized by police in the days preceding Lin's arrest.

The letter cited Jiang Zemin's announcement last month that China would sign the U.N. Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right of peaceful political expression [which was highly touted by Bill Clinton]. AFP adds that the crackdown is ongoing. Although five prisoners have been released, Lin Hui, Wang Youcai, Wang Donghia, Zhu Yufu and Zhu Zhengming. remain in custody. And the China News Agency reports that prominent dissident Mao Guoliang was arrested while attending his mother's funeral.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tang Guoqiang, told reporters the arrested dissidents are "actually criminals who violated Chinese laws," and refused to speculate on any possible releases.

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All Rights Reserved.

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